newsmakers

May 5, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

newsmakers

Producer sentenced in Letterman plot

NEW YORK

The former CBS television producer who tried to shake down David Letterman over the comic icon’s office affairs started a six-month jail term Tuesday, closing a case that opened Letterman’s behind-the-scenes behavior to public scrutiny.

Robert “Joe” Halderman, 52, didn’t speak before he was led from a Manhattan court in handcuffs to begin his jail sentence, to be followed by 1,000 hours of community service. He agreed to both when he pleaded guilty in March to attempted grand larceny.

Letterman wasn’t on hand for Halderman’s sentencing Tuesday. But throughout the six-month saga, Letterman made himself a presence in the case, if not the courtroom.

He revealed the blackmail plot — and the workplace dalliances at the heart of it — before prosecutors unveiled the case. He dispatched his lawyers to many of Halderman’s court appearances with statements in hand for the press, and Letterman himself commented in a TV appearance last week on the toll the disclosures had taken on his personal life.

Halderman, 52, admitted in March that he demanded $2 million in hush money last fall to keep from revealing personal information about Letterman.

Ruling: Corey Haim died of pneumonia

LOS ANGELES

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office has ruled that actor Corey Haim died from pneumonia complications and that drugs found in his system were not a factor in his death. The coroner’s office released its findings Tuesday on the 38-year-old actor, who died March 10 after collapsing in his mother’s apartment.

Haim had low levels of both over-the-counter and prescription drugs and some marijuana in his body, but his death was ruled natural. Previous reports said Haim had prescriptions for large doses of powerful painkillers, including Oxycontin. But no Oxycontin was found in his system.

Bret Michaels is out of the hospital

PHOENIX

Poison frontman Bret Michaels has been released from a Phoenix hospital and is expected to make a full recovery after suffering a brain hemorrhage last month. The lead doctor treating Michaels said Tuesday that he recommends Michaels wait at least four to six weeks before resuming normal activity.

Dr. Joseph Zabramski of the Barrow Neurological Institute wouldn’t say when Michaels was released or whether he was sent home or to a rehabilitation facility. Dr. Zabramski says the 47-year-old contestant on “The Celebrity Apprentice” is receiving therapy and continues to suffer as blood pooled under his brain dissolves.